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Oz GP boss: Quiet F1 'not what we paid for'

LONDON, England - Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker said after Sunday's Formula 1 race that he was not happy with the reduced decibels in Formula 1 and that it was "clearly in breach of contract".

Walker said: "It's not what we paid for. It's going to change. It will be an issue for promoters all around the world."

Ecclestone told Reuters that Walker was "probably going a bit over the top with what he's saying" but added that the Australian was not alone in his concern.

MORE COMPLAINTS

Ecclestone said: "I've had one or two promoters get in touch with me and said how unhappy they are. I spoke to (Ferrari president) Luca di Montezemolo and Luca said he's never had as many emails on his desk complaining and saying this isn't F1."

The new F1 regulations for 2014 meant the previous 2.4 litre V8 engine used in 2013 was axed to make way for a more muted 1.6 litre V6  turbo power unit with expensive and complicated energy recovery systems.

Ecclestone has long been a critic of the change and has warned repeatedly that the sport risked losing a key ingredient for the paying public by turning down the volume that was such a big part of the show.

Ecclestone said: "I'm disappointed that I was right when I said what was going to happen. I'm sorry that it's happened."

TROUBLED GP

Nico Rosberg won the Australian GP  for a dominant Mercedes while quadruple world champion compatriot Sebastian Vettel, who won the last nine races in 2013 for Red Bull, retired with engine trouble.

Despite dire predictions of no cars finishing the race, so uncertain was their reliability, 13 of the 22 drivers were classified in the final results.

Ecclestone said; "I am surprised that as many cars finished. I didn't think the racing was super. What was good from the public's point of view I suppose was that we didn't suddenly see Sebastian disappear into the night."

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.

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